Gen. Hawk Carlisle, commander of the Air Combat Command, said the jet has met all key criteria for initial operational capability, the service said in a statement.

Those criteria include "Airmen trained, manned and equipped to conduct basic close air support, interdiction and limited suppression/destruction of enemy air defenses in a contested environment with an operational squadron of 12-24 aircraft; the ability to deploy and conduct operational missions using program of record weapons and missions systems; and having all necessary logistics and operational elements in place."

The 34th Fighter Squadron out of Hill Air Force Base in Utah is the first operational F-35A squadron.

The service's combat ready declaration comes after the Air Force announced Monday the aircraft successfully launched an air-to-air AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, directly hitting a drone over a California test range last month.